Policy Research’s Homeless Response Systems Mapping Workshop brings together local participants to collaboratively address homelessness by identifying community-specific resources, gaps, and strategies for effective intervention. The workshop is designed to harness local expertise to create tailored responses to homelessness, clearly visualized in systems maps and action plans. Read on to learn how these workshops result in meaningful, sustainable change.
What problem does Policy Research’s Homeless Response Systems Mapping Workshop address?
Homelessness affects individuals and communities across the country. Unfortunately, existing service networks often lack sufficient resources to effectively meet the needs of everyone experiencing or at risk of homelessness. People experiencing homelessness live with higher rates of some health issues, including mental health conditions and substance use disorders, as well as high rates of trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and victimization.
The Homeless Response Systems Mapping Workshop identifies critical intersections within community systems, where timely and appropriate interventions can prevent homelessness or swiftly connect individuals to stable, safe housing. The workshop facilitates cross-sector collaboration among policymakers, governmental agencies, social services, healthcare providers, researchers, and other professionals and community members. By working together, communities can stabilize housing for those at risk, efficiently connect individuals and families to necessary services, and transition people from homeless services into permanent housing solutions.
What specific intersections does the mapping process focus on to produce homelessness solutions?
The Homeless Response Systems Mapping Workshop specifically addresses four key intersections within the homeless services system: prevention and diversion, pathways into homelessness, conditions of homelessness, and pathways out of homelessness. In addition, a variety of wraparound services intersect with each point.
- Prevention and diversion programs aim to proactively stop homelessness by supporting individuals and families at risk before they lose housing.
- Pathways in highlight the various circumstances—such as job loss, medical crises, mental health issues, or family disruptions—that lead to homelessness.
- Conditions of homelessness focus on aligning service definitions and ensuring smoother transitions between care providers.
- Pathways out emphasize tracking outcomes, including duration of homelessness and successful transitions into stable housing, while wraparound services support individuals at every intersection.
How does Policy Research’s strategic planning workshop set its systems mapping approach apart and help communities enact real social change?
Policy Research’s approach integrates strategic planning into its systems mapping, moving beyond simply identifying gaps toward actively designing actionable solutions. The strategic planning sessions empower participants to prioritize key issues, develop measurable objectives, and formulate clear, actionable steps with designated leaders and timelines. For example, a recent mapping in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, focused on identifying and developing community-based homelessness solutions. Participants prioritized creating flexible eviction prevention funding and establishing a dedicated diversion and prevention support team, alongside fostering a comprehensive, whole-person care model. This deliberate integration of strategic planning ensures that communities not only visualize their homeless response systems clearly but also possess structured, practical action plans to implement sustainable and meaningful social change.
Who would benefit from participating in a Homeless Response Systems Mapping Workshop?
Participants in a Homeless Response Systems Mapping Workshop typically include a wide range of professionals involved in addressing homelessness, such as behavioral health and physical health providers, education specialists, employment services experts, and homelessness outreach workers. Housing providers, legal professionals, social service agency staff, peer specialists, family advocates, and individuals with lived experience also provide key perspectives. Additionally, funders, policymakers, and representatives from specific populations—such as those connected to the criminal legal system, Native communities, or transition-age youth—can play critical roles. By engaging people from many impacted backgrounds, the mapping workshop ensures comprehensive, inclusive solutions that effectively respond to community-specific needs.
How can I learn more about this workshop or bring it to my community?
Visit Policy Research’s Systems Mapping and Training Center website for more details. Interested communities can reach out directly via the SMTC website to initiate a local Homeless Response Systems Mapping Workshop.
This blog post was developed with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence